Journalist Imran Riaz Khan was detained on Tuesday night close to Islamabad’s toll plaza updated his counsel Mian Ali Afshaq.
Khan was on his way to Islamabad when he was taken into custody in connection with a treason charge filed against him in Attock. In addition to filing a plea for contempt of court against the police, Ashfaq claimed that his client was identified in 17 treason cases around Punjab.
Chief Islamabad High Court is graciously taking up the contempt petition shortly tonight. This is regarding arrest of Imran Riaz Khan.
I have reached in Islamabad High Court.
— Mian Ali Ashfaq (@MianAliAshfaq) July 5, 2022
According to information, the journalist was detained by police and Rangers forces. Imran Riaz Khan cannot be arrested, according to Mian Ali, who also referred to the arrest as being made in violation of the Islamabad High Court’s specific instructions.
He claimed that Imran Riaz Khan has been the target of 30 FIRs to date, all of which have been dropped when the Islamabad High Court granted him bail. Several FIRs against journalists had already been filed in a variety of towns, including Muzaffargarh and Sargodha.
The claims state that the anchor’s conducts were a major criminal and a violation of the Constitution since they hurt the feelings of Pakistani civilians. The Punjab Police has been aggressively going after journalists who criticize the current administration. According to journalists and a news anchor, cops visited his home several times on June 21.
Imran Riaz Khan disclosed in a series of tweets that the police had visited his home three times in the previous seven hours. Additionally, a police car had been parked in front of his residence all day. Imran Riaz Khan, however, continued to criticize the government for persecuting journalists and being “fascist” despite this.
Journalists who openly criticize the government have had it rough since the current administration was imposed by force. It is pertinent to note that the contentious no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan has contributed to a drop in support for the PML-N-led administration.
Many prominent journalists and the bulk of the populace have been outspoken in their condemnation of the current administration. As a result, several journalists, including Imran Riaz Khan, have been arrested on sedition-related charges.
Sections 131 (incitation to mutiny), 153 (provoking to provoke riot), 452 (trespassing), and 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code are among the offences committed against Imran Riaz Khan (PPC).
It’s important to remember that the current administration made a commitment to press and speech freedoms. However, a lot of journalists have complained about police harassment on social media.
Twitter user @GMusaddiq tweeted that Imran Riaz Khan said in a video, “Five hours from now, if the police do not release me or harm me in any way, a video will be uploaded that will cause panic in the whole country.”
اب سے 5 گھنٹے کے بعد اگر پولیس نے مجھے نہ چھوڑا یا مجھے نقصان پہنچایا تو ایسی ویڈیو اپلوڈ ہو گی کہ پورے ملک میں تہلکہ مچ جائے گا#ImranRiazKhan pic.twitter.com/0iVVuHgyRz
— Ghulam Musaddiq (@GMusaddiq) July 5, 2022
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